Industrial symbiosis: practices in China’s industrial parks

Zhao Kai
Vice Chairman and Secretary General, China Association of Circular Economy

As an important driver for regional economic development, industrial parks are not only a zoned area consuming resources and energy while generating pollution, but also an excellent tool to improve the ecological environment and achieve high-quality development. Industrial symbiosis refers to the cooperation between different companies to achieve resource sharing or complementarity, and directly or indirectly enhance resource allocation efficiency within or outside them. It helps foster synergistic developments among industries, efficient use of resources, continuous extension of the industrial chain, and further develop the industrial cycle, symbiosis or coupling.